September 15, 1492—Life on the Sea By reading the logs and journals of sailors and explorers from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, we can get a good picture of life on the sea. Christopher Columbus adds to this portrait with the details and descriptions found in his captain's log. While much of the journey was filled with hard work and periods of boredom, the most exciting and interesting parts were recorded by Columbus as they happened. Through his retelling of these events we can grasp the general mood of the voyage.Saturday, 15 September 1492I sailed to the west day and night for 81 miles, or more. Early this morning I saw a marvelous meteorite fall into the sea 12 or 15 miles away to the SW. This was taken by some people to be a bad omen, but I calmed them by telling of the numerous occasions I have witnessed such events. I have to confess that this is the closest that a falling star has ever come to my ship. Sunday, 16 September 1492I sailed day and night to the west and must have gone about 117 miles, but I logged only 108. There were a few storm clouds today, and it drizzled. . . . We have begun to see large patches of yellowish-green weed, which seems to have been torn away from some island or reef. I know that the weed had not come from the mainland because I make the mainland to be farther on. Monday, 17 September 1492I held my course to the west and made, day and night, 150 miles or more, but I only logged 141 miles. I have a favorable current. I saw a great deal of weed today—weed from rocks that lie to the west. I take this to mean that we are near land. . . . The sea is less salty by half than it is in the Canaries, and the breezes are more gentle. Everyone is cheerful, and the Pinta, the fastest sailing vessel, went ahead as fast as it could in order to sight land. We saw a lot of porpoises, and the men of the Niña killed one with a harpoon. All the indications of land come from the west, where I trust Almighty God, in whose hands are all victories, will soon deliver us to land. . . . As a sailor, describe in your journal the unusual things you witnessed from the ship. Would the meteorite falling from the sky or the large floating clump of seaweed scare you and cause you to want to turn back home? How would your outlook be influenced by the different events Columbus describes?
Saturday, 15 September 1492I sailed to the west day and night for 81 miles, or more. Early this morning I saw a marvelous meteorite fall into the sea 12 or 15 miles away to the SW. This was taken by some people to be a bad omen, but I calmed them by telling of the numerous occasions I have witnessed such events. I have to confess that this is the closest that a falling star has ever come to my ship. Sunday, 16 September 1492I sailed day and night to the west and must have gone about 117 miles, but I logged only 108. There were a few storm clouds today, and it drizzled. . . . We have begun to see large patches of yellowish-green weed, which seems to have been torn away from some island or reef. I know that the weed had not come from the mainland because I make the mainland to be farther on. Monday, 17 September 1492I held my course to the west and made, day and night, 150 miles or more, but I only logged 141 miles. I have a favorable current. I saw a great deal of weed today—weed from rocks that lie to the west. I take this to mean that we are near land. . . . The sea is less salty by half than it is in the Canaries, and the breezes are more gentle. Everyone is cheerful, and the Pinta, the fastest sailing vessel, went ahead as fast as it could in order to sight land. We saw a lot of porpoises, and the men of the Niña killed one with a harpoon. All the indications of land come from the west, where I trust Almighty God, in whose hands are all victories, will soon deliver us to land. . . .
